Having spotted some very unique manicures on the red carpet, we’d like to inform you that painting and trimming your nails is just not enough any longer. From diamonds and gold, to sapphires and rubies, nail art just got pretty darn expensive.

Images Courtesy: Reuters

Who can forget the racket surrounding Kelly Osbourne’s $250,000 manicure at the Emmys in 2012? Rumoured to be the most expensive nail paint in the world, Azature’s black diamond nail polish contains 267 carats of real black diamonds.

Image Courtesy: Selfridges

Rihanna ditched the diamonds and went the gold route for her appearance at the 2012 Grammys. The Pop and R&B artist dipped her nails in a 24 karat gold Red Carpet Manicure, Amor 24 Gel Polish. The limited edition paint costs $5,000.

Leighton Denny gives your nails a flashy makeover at $32,000. Using an encapsulation technique, Denny sculpts an extended tip on your natural nail and then covers it with gems like diamonds, sapphires and rubies, finally sealing it off with a layer of clear acrylic.

Faking Luxury - Velvet or felt? Well the way Make Up Academy (MUA) would describe it is ‘a luxurious fur-effect’. The brand has launched this unique nail paint that gives your talons a textured (perhaps fuzzy?) appearance. Blake Lively was working this trend on her wedding day with Ryan Reynolds. Available in five different colours at only £3, this is a really easy way to fake luxury, and hey, if it’s good enough for Blake.

Image Courtesy: Make Up Academy

Attending the 2012 British Fashion Awards, Alexa Chung sure made a statement with her black leather nails, courtesy Nails Inc. This luxurious looking manicure soon had 870 takers on a waiting list, all in line for the ‘it’ nail paint of the season, complete with a limited edition leather effect cap. At £19, we’d have to say, not bad at all.

Image Courtesy: Nails Inc

Available in Mother of Pearl, Black Pearls and Rainbow sets, Ciate’s Caviar Manicure may cost an affordable £18, but lives up to its expensive name in appearance. It is 3-dimensional, indulgent and glamorously OTT.

Available in Mother of Pearl, Black Pearls and Rainbow sets, Ciate’s Caviar Manicure may cost an affordable £18, but lives up to its expensive name in appearance. It is 3-dimensional, indulgent and glamorously OTT.